Kauai

Taylor Camp was the name given to a commune built Kauai’s hippie community in the 1960’s. A documentary about it called "The Edge of Paradise" has now been updated and renamed. It debuted on the Garden Isle and now heads to the Big Island.

As Kauaʻi residents continue to deal with the impacts of heavy rain and flooding, we want to turn your attention to another water issue on the Garden Isle....one that residents have been dealing with for more than a century. HPR Reporter Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi has more.

A plucky little gallery on the Hanalei River is mighty glad not to have seen flooding over the weekend. Still, it’s a surprise to area regulars that Ola’s Hanalei, known for its array of fine art and crafts, will be closing at the end of October. HPR’s Noe Tanigawa spoke with the owner of Ola’s yesterday, as intermittent downpours fed a rising Hanalei River.

The effects of the April flooding continue to be felt on Kaua‘i and will be for the foreseeable future. Engineers and road crews are still at work repairing the single, badly damaged road leading to the affected north shore community. And a caravan system is still in operation – with officials slowly leading locals in and out of the area a few times a day.

The recent volcanic activity on the Big Island of Hawai‘i has captured the attention of the world. But elsewhere in the islands there’s another dramatic story that has not been a focus for many. It’s been nearly six weeks since Kaua‘i was hit by record flooding. And the recovery continues to be a slow process. We get more from HPR Contributing Reporter Scott Giarman on Kaua‘i.

One week after historic rains swamped the north shore of Kauaʻi, communities at the end of the road remain isolated. While geographic isolation raises unique challenges in disaster recovery, it always strengthens this community’s self-reliance. HPR’s Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi has this story.

Following the weekend flooding, the Hanalei District - including Wainiha and Haʻena, faced heavy damage. The Hanalei River became swollen, and many neighborhoods and farmlands flooded. Emergency rescue crews evacuated 152 people by helicopter, 121 by bus and others by water. Currently, it is an active search and rescue effort.

Paʻulaʻula o Hipo, the site of Fort Elizabeth, the fort built by Russian trading interests in the early 19th century, is best remembered as the setting for the brief alliance between the Russian-American Company and Kauai's High Chief Kaumualiʻi. But there's more than one story behind what is now a National Historic Landmark.

When it comes to converting to renewable energy, the biggest success story in the islands is on Kaua‘i. Less than a decade ago, about five percent of the Garden Island’s energy came from renewable sources. Now it’s more than eight times that figure. But the island is also making progress on another important issue: how to make use of solar energy when the sun isn’t shining. HPR contributing reporter Scott Giarman has more from Kaua‘i.

The Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative held its annual meeting last night in Līhu‘e. It’s the only electric utility in the state that is not part of the Hawai‘i Electric Family. It’s also a national leader when it comes to approaching a goal of 100-percent renewable energy. HPR contributing correspondent Scott Giarman looks at the island’s energy past, present and future from Kaua‘i.

A store providing free school supplies for teachers on Kaua‘i will open its doors this weekend. An organization called Kumu’s Cupboard in the Kukui Grove Center will provide resources for local teachers who would otherwise be using their own money to buy basic school supplies.

A few weeks ago, a helicopter was sent on a rescue mission to a remote location deep in Limahuli Valley on Kauai’s north shore. This time, it wasn’t a hiker in distress needing rescue. The mission was part of an on-going effort to save the endangered Newell’s Shearwater from extinction. From Kaua‘i, HPR contributing reporter Scott Giarman has more.

More than 17 years in the making, Kaua‘i’s first traditional voyaging canoe is ready to set sail. The island plans to celebrate with a launch party Sunday, September 11. HPR’s Molly Solomon visited the Garden Isle recently and has this report.

A national environmental group is worried that bright lights at a Kaua‘i military base are harming the island’s native seabirds. The Center for Biological Diversity is seeking legal action after more than 120 endangered shearwaters and petrels were harmed or killed by artificial light at Kōke‘e Air Force Base over a two-week period last year.

The Newell’s shearwater spends most of the day burrowed in the mountains of Kaua‘i. It’s not until the sun goes down that the endangered seabirds take flight. Shrouded in darkness, it’s hard to see them. But you can definitely hear them.

Feral cats are continuing to kill and eat endangered Hawaiian petrels on Kaua‘i.

Last week, researchers discovered the bodies of six-birds at a remote breeding colony in the Hono o Na Pali natural area reserve. The petrels had been dragged from their breeding boroughs and partially eaten, including one incident that was caught on camera. Although several colonies are being protected by seabird management, a single cat can kill a large number of nesting birds in a small time.

Kauai’s Kokee State Park is home to the Alaka‘i Wilderness Preserve. At an elevation of one mile, it’s the world’s highest rainforest swamp. It’s also home to numerous endangered species as well as haunting and majestic vistas for visitors. A boardwalk was built back in the ‘90s both to protect the rare plants and animals and also for hiker safety. But that boardwalk is no longer what it used to be. HPR contributing reporter Scott Giarman has more from Kaua‘i.

Officials are investigating the cause of a fiery plane crash on the south shore of Kauai that killed all five people on board.

The crash happened at Port Allen Airport shortly after takeoff in Hanapēpē. Sarah Blane, a spokesperson for the County of Kaua‘i, says the plane, a single engine Cessna, is owned by the company Skydive Kaua‘i.

Four of them were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. One adult male was transferred to Wilcox Memorial Hospital, where he was then pronounced dead.

Many former youth symphony members remember the neighbor island tours they did with the Hawai‘i Youth Symphony, HYS. An annual highlight, this year, the members of HYS’ top orchestra went to Kaua‘i for a series of concerts. HPR’s Noe Tanigawa accompanied them to the Garden Island for this report.

We left O‘ahu in the dark! Blinking and a little bleary, ninety-seven teens and 26 adults boarded that early